Kids in the Hall Bistro

I love the idea behind Kids in the Hall. Not a whole lot of vegetarian options but I don’t care, I will eat whatever they have because I want to support this great opportunity for kids.

I’ve been to the Kids in the Hall Bistro a few times now, and during LitFest I volunteered for an event that was held there (and catered by KitHB).
For those who don’t know Kids in the Hall Bistro is a small bistro located in City Hall (hence the «in the Hall Bistro» part of the name). The «Kids» part of the name from the fact that the workers of the restaurant (most, although not all) are young adults, and teens from the E4C program, which is a local non-​profit organizaiton that helps vulnerable people in the community. The workers at Kids in the Hall get experience working in a restaurant and learning skills and responsibilities that in many cases they might not have access to. Kids in the Hall is great because you get to support this great program simply by having a coffee or having lunch.
The bistro’s food (from the few times I’ve been) has always been pretty good. The food isn’t breaking new ground in the restaurant world, but then again this is a bistro so most of the food options are pretty simple (sandwiches, soups, pasta dishes, etc). The menu changes every month or so and I think, as much as possible, they try to use seasonal food items. There is breakfast as well, but I’ve only ever been for lunch.
I think the only downside, for me at least, is that the bistro is only open for breakfast and lunch, and I believe they close pretty early in the day. It makes sense though, because their customer base is the downtown lunch crowd (in particular the City Hall workers). I’m not sure if the catering menu is similar to their regular lunch menu, but I wiill say that the catered food I had was really good.
It isn’t very often I’m downtown during the day, but if I am, and if it’s around lunch I try to stop in at Kids in the Hall. The food is good and I get to help a great cause at the same time. It’s a win-​win for all.

As this is a training ground restaurant, the service can be spotty, but the food is usually good. I was taken for lunch there last week and opted for the burger. There were several choices of toppings and my mushrooms and blue cheese were very hearty.
My companion was not so lucky with chicken supreme which appeared under cooked.
So a mixed effort, but the location is lovely, looking out on the fountain.

I’ve only been here once and it was actually apart of a class I was taking at U of A because this restaurant is a not-​for-​profit designed to help inner city youth get back on their feet, so everyone other than the Executive Director is basically someone who has had a hard time and is making an honest effort to turn their life around. All that being said, their food is good and while their service is sometimes hit or miss, it’s a good cause and definitely worth trying.

It was 9:30AM and the bistro was empty so I had my choice of table. I would have liked to sit by the tv and tree on the comfy chair but it wouldn’t work for a business meeting. I decided on one of the tables for 2 close to a coat rack so I could hang my coat on the chilly morning.
I was offered coffee but I prefer a hot cup of tea. It was great they put the teabag in a little tea pot so I could enjoy more than one cup. My colleague had raved about the cinnamon buns so we were disappointed they didn’t have any. I decided to try the breakfast sandwich with ham, egg, cheese, and tomato on an english muffin and hash browns. I liked the sandwich as it wasn’t too salty like at other places and the potatoes were big chunks and not thin and fried. Certainly not expensive at $ 3.25 for the sandwich, $ 2.50 for potatoes, and $ 1.70 for my tea. The service was fine, and the food came out hot and not very long after ordered. I was glad to see a few more tables occupied throughout the morning.
I will definitely be back in the future to support the kids and bistro, but also to try more good food.

Mmm, Kids in the Hall Bistro! I don’t get here as often as I would like to, but when I worked downtown I would try to eat here sometimes.
I was at City Hall with a group of friends and acquaintances a while back and we all took in lunch here. Awkward because I didn’t really know anyone at the table, but the food was tasty. I would definitely recommend the club sandwich.
They also serve up a tasty collection of muffins and breakfasty kind of foods. The coffee ain’t so bad either!
Service was fine — not bad, nothing memorable. Better than bad, I suppose!
A cute space, I like the fireplace, and it’s convenient if you’re a downtown core person.

I have eaten here a few times before, but quite a number of years ago. When a friend suggested we meet here for lunch, I was eager to try it again. I am totally in support of what Kids in the Hall is trying to do — provide kids who are at risk with training and support to live productive lives. The greeting, serving, and cooking is done mostly by these students, under guidance from professionals and the support of social organizations.
The menu is small, but varies, and includes steak, seafood, burgers, sandwiches, and salads. The descriptions are quite tempting, and the prices are competitive. Both my friend and I went with the 6 ounce striploin. It was done exactly to our likings, and was served with a mound of mashed potatoes, asparagus, mushrooms, and fried onions. The meals were attractively plated, with demi-​glacé drizzled around the food. Best of all, it tasted fantastic. Service was very friendly. All in allw e were happy with our experience here, and would recommend the place to anyone needing to do business around the Churchill Square area over lunchtime.

When I worked at city hall I used to have lunch here all of the time, mostly because of the convenience factor, but it was typically a positive experience. The deal with Kids is that the people who work here are at-​risk youth, and they’re part of an initiative to learn life and employment skills and overcome job, life and relationship barriers. They’re under close supervision while they prepare the food, serve, wait on the tables, process bills and clean. Some are friendly and at ease, while others are more shy, closed or rusty around the edges, but with an awareness of who’s serving you, it’s easier to be more patient and compassionate here. If you are, it’s a win-​win for everyone. The food’s pretty good and prices are a bit lower — a nice change for downtown — and the staff get to train for the real world in an environment that is supported by supervisors and understanding clientele.